SCS Comment

1. The Philippines cites the 1734 Velarde map (p1)("Panacot") to argue that Panacot = Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal). In the map, Panacot is located in middle of the three shoals off the west coast of Luzon. 2. The English name "Scarborough Shoal" comes from the British East Indiaman Scarborough grounding there on 12 Sept 1748—after the Velarde map was published. 3. In 1775, French hydrographer Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Denis d'Après de Mannevillette published the expanded 2nd ed. of Le Neptune Oriental, including "A Chart of the China Sea"(p2) originally drawn by British cartographer Alexander Dalrymple, the first map to precisely mark the location of the "Scarboro," the island named after the English commercial ship, and the "Scarboro Shoal" is placed to the west of the "three shoals". That means: "Scarboro" should not be wrongly confused with the "middle shoal" of that three-shoal group; it is hence distinct from the "Panacot" featured on the earlier Velarde map. 4. So if someone insists "Panacot is Huangyan Dao,” they must explain why the first explicit "Scarboro" plotting (1775) shows Scarboro separately—west of that three-shoal cluster. 5. Equating Panacot with Huangyan Dao is not a settled historical "fact," but a groundless interpretation that later charts directly refute.

Niklas Swanström (@niklasswanstrom Director of @ISDP_Sweden ): The oceans connect our economies, our societies, and increasingly our futures. In an era where strategic mistrust is growing, understanding different perspectives is itself a contribution to security. The future of maritime stability will not be determined by any single country, alliance, or institution. It will be shaped by our collective ability to manage disagreements while continuing to cooperate where our interests overlap. And those overlapping interests are significant. The oceans have always connected civilizations. They can also connect solutions. At a moment when the international environment is becoming more complex and uncertain, this report reminds us that maritime security is not only about managing competition. It is also about creating opportunities for dialogue, cooperation, and responsible governance.

Xu Xiaodong said: Maritime developments are increasingly extending beyond bilateral relations, with far-reaching implications for regional and global security. The stability of the maritime order depends not only on shifts in the balance of power, but also on countries’ ability to manage disputes, maintain dialogue, and pursue practical cooperation.

🌊 The Global Ocean Security Report 2025–2026 is officially launched! Today, Xu Xiaodong, Executive Chairman of the Huayang Center, and Niklas Swanström @niklasswanstrom , Director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy (@ISDP_Sweden ), jointly launched the report. Bringing together experts from China, the US, Europe, and across Asia, the report explores evolving maritime security challenges, shifting national strategies, and the future of ocean governance through the lens of the South China Sea. 📖 A global perspective on maritime security in an era of growing uncertainty.

The launch of the Global Ocean Security Report is just around the corner! Join us at 8:45 AM!

Guan Kejiang (President and Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times, China): China–ASEAN blue economy cooperation requires consensus and joint efforts from governments, businesses, civil society, think tanks and media. Deepening it is a grand undertaking that benefits over 2 billion people on both sides.

Wu Shicun: No quick-fix solution to the South China Sea disputes. The immediate priority is to manage risks and prevent the escalation of conflict. Efforts could begin in less sensitive areas—such as marine environmental protection, fisheries conservation, joint scientific research, ecological restoration, and collaborative ocean observation. By exploring viable paths toward joint development, the parties can steadily build mutual trust, thereby creating the conditions for an eventual resolution of the disputes.

Wu Shicun (Chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance; Chairman of Academic Committee of NISCSS, China): The initiative for peace and stability, rule-building and resource development in the South China Sea should be firmly held in the hands of regional countries.

Wu Shicun: The South China Sea should become a stage for cooperation rather than a frontier for confrontation. China is committed to working with regional countries to foster a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation in the South China Sea. This is a long-term strategy in line with the common interests of the region and highly consistent with the concept of a community with a shared future for the oceans.

Watch livestream of the 7th Global Symposium on Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance here!

Li Dongyu (Director-General, Province Oceanic Administration of Hainan, China): In the China–ASEAN Blue Economy Partnership, Hainan aims to be a trusted hub and gateway. For Chinese firms and capital heading to ASEAN, and ASEAN goods and resources entering China, Hainan hopes to be the preferred transit, processing, settlement and HQ base.

Chi Fulin (Chair Research Fellow of Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies, China): Advancing the joint development of China-ASEAN blue economy's industrial and supply chains will not only serve as a key driver of China’s sustained economic growth, but also deliver important opportunities for ASEAN countries in processing and manufacturing, marine-related services and other sectors.

Yang Rui (Chairperson of Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies,China): The ocean is a strategic frontier for high-quality development, and leveraging cooperation to guide governance is a pragmatic choice for maintaining regional peace and stability.

Christian Schultheiss (Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Germany) discussed the legal and practical considerations surrounding marine protected areas under the BBNJ Agreement, with a focus on areas within national jurisdiction.

Bai Jiayu (Professor, School of Law, Nankai University, China): The BBNJ Agreement is expected to strengthen global ocean governance by fostering cooperation and coordination. China can help shape the interpretation of the “not undermining” principle through rule-making, international cooperation, and scientific and technological support.